BishopAccountability.org
	Church Music Minister Charged with Indecent Liberties Citizen-Times May 19, 2009 http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090519/NEWS01/90519039 ASHEVILLE – The music minister at North Asheville's St. Eugene Catholic Church was arrested Monday on charges of taking or attempting to take indecent liberties with a minor April 21. Asheville police charged Paul Lawrence Berrell, 29, with one felony count of indecent liberties with a student. The formal charge against Berrell is taking or attempting to take indecent liberties with a student "under the age of 16 years for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire." An Asheville Police Department report says the incident occurred at Berrell's North Ridge Drive home, just on the Woodfin side of the Woodfin-Asheville municipal line, but gives no details. The report says a "parent called Asheville Police Department to report indecent liberties with a child." Police spokeswoman Melissa Williams said the department would have no other comment because the incident involves a minor. A spokesman for the Diocese of Charlotte, which St. Eugene is a part of, said Berrell no longer works for the church as of yesterday afternoon. Spokesman David Hains said the church was unaware of any allegations against Berrell until police arrived at the church yesterday. "We know pretty much what is in the police report. The police came and talked with Mr. Berrell. He left with them and then he was arrested," Hains said. Hains said he does not know whether the alleged incident occurred in connection with Berrell's duties at St. Eugene's, where he held the title of pastoral associate for music and liturgy. Asheville Catholic School is a ministry of St. Eugene. Hains said there is "no indication to us at this point" that the incident occurred at the school or at any school function. Biographical information on Berrell's pages on social networking Internet sites Facebook and MySpace say he is "a published composer of intergenerational Catholic-Christian music" and that he released an album last year entitled "This Little Boy: A Christmas Collection." It says Berrell is originally from Atlanta, graduated from the University of Georgia, and arranges collegiate and semi-professional a capella music.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.